Page 93 of Beautiful Dreamer

“You have a good time, now,” Mrs. Eckhart said, patting hershoulder. “I’m gonna see if Mr. Ivers wants to scoot around the dance floorwith me.” She demonstrated a couple of moves and sashayed away.

Devyn smiled and called after her. “Who could say no to you?”

“From your lips,” she called back. “Coming over next week?”

“I’ll be there.”

She’d taken to stopping by Ms. Eckhart’s house every other week orso for a chat, or just to see if she needed any help with anything around thehouse. She found the visits healing, and a way for her to feel closer to hermom. Plus, Mrs. Eckhart made that amazing lemon cake that had Devyn jogging afew extra blocks to make up for it.

On her own now, she walked the different booths and inhaled theamazing aromas drifting over from the various grills and on-site ovens. Shebopped her head to the music, feeling content with her life choices for thefirst time in…well, ever. Who knew she’d not only enjoy small town life, butactually thrive? She had hobbies now and time to genuinely take in her ownsurroundings without leaping from one listing appointment, to a showing, to thenegotiating table, only to repeat it all again fifty times a week. She exhaledand grinned.

“What has you smiling so wide?” Jill. She turned to see her cladin jeans, a black top, and a red puffer vest, holding on to Charlie’s bicep forsupport. Gone was the cane, which was a gigantic milestone in her recovery. Inits place was Charlie, always at the ready to help Jill with whatever sheneeded. Devyn had watched their relationship take one tentative step forward ata time until they’d become practically inseparable. Seeing Jill so happy, shecouldn’t help but root for them. They werethatcute.

Devyn shrugged and held it. “Just enjoying tonight. Realizing Imade the right decision coming home. I feel that reassurance in the air allaround me.” She held out a hand. “That may sound crazy, but it’s happening.”

“It’s not at all crazy.” Jill placed a hand over her chest andexhaled. “I mean, I thought that would be the case, but I’m so relieved to hearyou say it.”

“You don’t miss the big city?” Charlie asked, accepting two cupsof mulled wine for himself and Jill from his store’s very own booth.

“Part of it, sure,” Devyn said. “But I’ll get back there every nowand then for an occasional listing. I made it clear to my clients that theycould call on me for the special projects. But on a daily basis, I’ll work fromthe Bay.”

“We all set to check on some beachfront properties, Ms. Winters?”Jerry Dill, from the mayor’s office, asked from behind aturkey-and-cranberries-sandwich booth.

She pointed at him. “On my calendar. I have four options, andyou’re gonna have a tough time choosing.”

“That’s what I like to hear.”

“Well, well,” Elizabeth said, joining their group. “Sounds likebusiness is picking up.” Her green eyes were bright and they complemented thescarf she wore, the purple and black one Devyn had given her, perfectly. Sheblinked, trying to understand what that could mean. Maybe she just enjoyed thestyle.

“Business is great,” Devyn said, and swallowed. Elizabeth lookedbeautiful. Her hair was pulled back loosely on the sides and cascaded down herback. The scarf accentuated the black turtleneck she wore perfectly. The shortblack booties added an inch to her height. She looked stylish and cozy, and itwas all Devyn could do to not let her thoughts wander to those more intimate innature. But no, she was content just to be in Elizabeth’s presence and enjoy alittle bit of the evening with her. Her heart ached for more, but she knew thestate of things and could be patient. “Almost ready to find that new office?”

“I was planning to give you a call after the holiday. Maybe find aplace by Christmas and in time for the new year.”

Devyn nodded. She’d been watching the market to see what kinds ofthings might potentially open up. “I think the timing of that is spot-on.”

“Great. And thank you for the front porch delivery.”

She said it with a smile, which was a step forward. The usualannoyance had receded, and something in Devyn quieted and sighed in relief. Shedidn’t want to be pushy, and at the first sign that she was being received thatway, she would back off.

“You’re welcome. I hope you enjoy the blend on that roast. I hadit specially made, given your sweet tooth.”

Jill and Charlie looked from one of them to the other, as ifgleeful spectators at the most entertaining of tennis matches.

“I love it,” Elizabeth said.

Oh, wow.Look at that.The polite smile melted into a genuine one, the verysmile Devyn hadn’t seen in a long while and missed more than she thoughtpossible. Her stomach tightened and flip-flopped, because this was the firstsign that there was maybe a true chance for them. She stared into her cup tonot give away the happy tears that threatened. She’d come so far, and made somany awful mistakes along the way, and this very slight encouragement…matteredto her.

“Well,” Elizabeth said, and looked from Jill to Charlie, then backto Devyn. “I’ll let you all enjoy your evening. Gonna go find little Gray andgive him some overdue kisses. Did I mention I’m going to give wine a shottonight?”

“Who are you and what have you done with beer-loving Elizabeth?”Jill asked.

She shrugged happily. “Change is in the air.”

Devyn raised a hand in farewell and offered a smile. Secondslater, once they were alone, Jill slugged her, nearly toppling her mug ofmulled wine.

“What in hell, Jill?”

“She was giving you the eyes,” her sister said, and then let herjaw drop in surprise. “I wasn’t sure you’d ever get there again with her, afterhow heartbroken she was, but I felt an actual spark.”

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